Toyota Donates 29 Trial Vehicles for Training

BLUE SPRINGS, Miss., (Feb. 7, 2013) – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, Inc. (TMMMS) continued its support of local organizations today with the donation of 29 trial vehicles valued at almost $403,000.

Itawamba Community College and Northeast Mississippi Community College will each receive seven vehicles, and the emergency management agencies in Pontotoc, Union and Lee Counties will each receive five trial vehicles.

“Trial vehicles are built to teach Team Members the automotive manufacturing processes,” said Phil Rodi, vice president of manufacturing at TMMMS. “It’s exciting that these Corollas will go on to provide more professional training to individuals across diverse, yet equally important trades.”

The donation vehicles will be used to support vocational education training and workforce development programs at local community colleges; and to provide on-going realistic fireground training, education and certification to fire service personnel necessary to insure a competent and efficient emergency response organization.

Originally produced and used during plant startup to teach Team Members the production process, the 2012 Toyota Corollas are non-operable vehicles. Only non-operable vehicles, shell bodies or engines are approved for donation by Toyota manufacturing facilities.

Applications for donations from Toyota Mississippi are generally reviewed four times per year. Each applicant must complete and submit an online application. Application, guidelines and limitations are available online at www.toyota.com/about/philanthropy.

TMMMS makes grants to organizations that ensure the success and advancement of students of all ages, promote environmental sustainability and road safety, strengthen and advance physical and mental health and quality of life, encourage diversity and inclusion, preserve arts and culture, and provide leadership programs for developing human capital.

TMMMS is Toyota’s fourteenth North American plant, further advancing the company’s efforts to design, develop and build vehicles where they are sold. The plant is an $800 million investment and has the annual capacity to produce 150,000 Corollas.

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About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE: TM) established operations in the United States in 1957 and currently operates 10 manufacturing plants. Toyota directly employs nearly 30,000 in the U.S. and its investment here is currently valued at more than $18 billion, including sales and manufacturing operations, research and development, financial services and design.

Toyota is committed to being a good corporate citizen in the communities where it does business and believes in supporting programs with long-term sustainable results. Toyota supports numerous organizations across the country, focusing on education, the environment and safety. Since 1991, Toyota has contributed over half a billion dollars to philanthropic programs in the U.S.